Crate for catching and holding hogs



May 15, 1923. I 1,455,101

w. L. BARLOW CRATE FOR CATCHiNG AND HOLDING HOGS Filed June 4, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 N mvowtoz May 15, 1923. 1,455,11m

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CRATE FOR CATCHING AND HOLDING HOGS Filed June 4-, 1921 s Sheets-Sheet 3 avwcntoz May 15, 1923. 1,455,1M

W. L. BARLOW CRATE FOR CATCHING AND HOLDING HOGS Filed June 4, 1921 5 She ets-Sheet 4 r o N R i Y i s Q i l i W $2 N) l I Q N N W\& N \E Q Q. i F8 \J N s Q F3 N V I V Q R 3 i A l w N N (\1 I avwc-ntoz M/fi'a Zfiar/m Mawv 15, 1923.

v. IASSJMM L. BARLOW CRATE FOR cAtfid-gms AND HOLDING HOGS iv Filed June 4 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet &

f I Qwvemtoz Patented May 15, 1923.

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retain WILLIAM L. BAR-LO'W, OF CLEAR LAKE, IOWA.

CRATE FOR CATCHING AND HOLDING HOGS.

Application filed June 4,

. it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved crate for catching and holding hogs and one object of the invention is to provide a crate so constructed that it may be easily entered. by the hogs and further provided with im proved means for engaging and holding the hogs, the hogs being securely clamped in the crate and one element of the clampingmeans engaging the back of the-hog so that the crate may be turned to an upside down position and the bottom of the crate then swung to an open 'Josition, the means for engaging the back 0' the hog serving as supporting means for the hog when the crate is turned Y over and the bottom opened.

. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved type of clamping board for engaging one side of the hog and improved means for moving this clamping board into position to clamp the hog against a stationary side wall of the crate.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide improved means for slidably mounting an upper wall for the crate between the clamping board and stationary side wall so that this upper wall section may be moved downwardly into engagement with the bacl; of the hog.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for holding the upper wall in a" depressed position when moved into engagement with the back of a hog the means securing the upper wall section in a depressed position constituting supporting means for the upper wall and thus supporting theweight of the wall section and hog when the crate is turned and the bottom swung to an open position. Another object of the invention is to provide a crate so constructed that hogs of vary ing sizes may be secured in the crate and be positioned in approximately the same position when the crate is turned and the bottom swung to an open position. 1

Another object of theinvention is to pro- 1921. Serial No. 475,036.

vide improved means for rotatably mounting the crate, this means consisting of improved circular track members carried by the crate and improved cradle means engaged by the circular track members.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hog holding crate which will be strong and durable and simple in construction and further easy to operate.

Th s lnvention is illustrated in the accompanylng drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a View showing the improved crate in side elevation.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the improved crate.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical secional view taken along the line l 4E of Fig.3.

Figure 5 is a View showing the crate in end elevation after being turned over and having the bottom swung to an open positlon.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 looking at the opposite end of the crate.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view illustrating in detail the manner of mounting the clamping board for sliding movement.-

Figure 8 is a'transverse sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

l'digure 9 is a fragmentary view showing in detail the manner of securing one of the rods for holding the upper wall member in a depressed position.

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 1010 of Fig. 9.

This crate is provided with a base 1 which is rectangular in shape and is provided at its ends with cradle members 2, the end portions of which extend upwardly asshown in Fig. Rollers 4 are provided at the ends of the cradle members and intermediate rollers 5 are provided intermediate the width of the base and together with the rollers 4 engage the circular track rings 6 which are cai" ried by the end walls 7 of the housing. This housing is provided with side walls 8 and 9 and with a bottom 10 which is hingedly connected with the side wall 8 as shown at 11 and provided with an upstanding side section 12 which forms a portion of the wall 9 and will be provided with latch pins 13 for engagement by the latching hooks 1% mounted upon a bar 15 forming a portion of this wall 9. The upper bar 16 of this wall 9 is spaced from the lower bar 15, thus providing an open space in this wall for a purpose to be hereinafter brought out. Doors 17 and 18 are provided for the end walls which will be in the form of open frames, and these doors are hingedly mounted and releasably held in a closed position by suitable latching means. One of these doors is of a fiat construction and the second door which will be at-the exit end of the crate will be in the form of a screen covered with wire so that light may readily enter the crate and the hog have no fear of entering the crate. It will thus be seen that with the door 17 closed and 1 the door 18 open, the hog will readily enter the crate and move toward the exit door 17.

The entrance door 18 can then be closed and the hog will be confined in the crate.

A clamping board 19 is positioned vertically in the housing and is provided with hangers 20 which extend upwardly from the clamping board and areprovided with outstanding arms 21 which extend between spaced track bars 22 mounted upon the end walls 7, These outstanding arms 21 may be provided withrollers if so desired so that they will slide easily between the track bars. An upper wall section 23 is positioned between the clamping board 19 and wall. 8 and is slidably mounted for vertical movement by means of cross rods 24 connected with the ends of the upper wall 23 by brackets 25 and having their end portions formed into eyes so that these rods may be slidably mounted upon rods 26 carried by the walls 8 and 9. Springs 27 are mounted upon these rods 26 beneath the eyes of the rods 24 and will serve to yieldably retain the upper wall in a raised position but permit of it being moved clownwardly to engage the back of a hog in the pen.

In order to move the clamping board into engagement with the side of a pig or hog after the animal has entered the housing and the door 18' has been closed, there have been provided rocker shafts 28 and 29 which are journaled in bearings 30 carried by the bars 15 and 1.6 of the walls 9. Each of these rocker shafts is provided with a lever arm 31 and these lever arms are connected by a link 32 so that when the shaft 28 is rotated through the medium of the handle extension 33', the shaft 29 will be similarly rotated.

Board-engaging arms 31which are curved longitudinally extend from these shafts 28 and 29 above and below the lever arms 31 and extend into the crate with their free end portions engaging the clamping board. It will thus be seen that when the rocker shafts are rotated to swing the arms 34 inwardly, they will act upon the'clamping board and slidethis clamping board toward the wall 8. They will not only slide the clamping board toward the wall to bring it into engagement with the side of a hog in the pen but will also have a tendency to swing the board and will thus serve to bring the board into firm engagement with the sides of the hog and at the proper angle; The hog will thus be and is formed of links, the proper one of which may be brought down into engagement with the cleats 36 carried by the wall 8 in order to permit the operating means for the clamping board to be secured in a set position with the hog firmly clamped between this pressure board and the wall 8.

After the hog has been clamped between the wall 8 and clamping board 19, the movable wall or cover 23will be pressed downwardly and the rods 37 will be passed through the proper set of alined openings 38 and 39 formed inthe board 19 and wall 8 so that these rods 37 will extend above the upper wall and retain it in engagement with the back of the hog as shown'in Fig.

After the securing rods have been passed through the openings 38 and39, they will be turned so that the locking fingers it) will be moved into position for engagement by the. brackets 41 secured vertically upon the wall 8. Therefore, the rods 37 cannot accidentally slip out of the openings 38 and 39 and the wall 23 will be securely held in engagement with the back of the hog. hen the upper wall is in the raised position, the rod or pins 37 may be passed through suitable openings 38 and 39 so that they will extend beneath this wall and support it thus takingstrain off of the springs. V

. After the hog has entered the housing and has been engaged by the clamping board 19 and upper wall 23, the housing can be rotated and turned from the position of Fig. 3 to that shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The latches o hooks 14 can now beswung to a released position and the bottom swung openshown. The hog will then be supported in an elevated position upon its back and can be readily operated upon. It will thus be seen that there has been provided a crate into which the hog can be easily driven and means for gripping the hog and supporting it. It will be further noted that the device is so constructed that the hog will always be supported in an elevated position and that since'the clamping board terminates short of of the wall 9 is carried by this bottom, the

hog will be held in such a positionthat it the bottom 10 and further the lower portion The exit door will now be opened and the.

, clamping board movably mounted in the housing and movable toward and away from the stationary wall, an upper clamping ele ment positioned between the clamping board and stationary wall and mounted for vertical movement and yieldably held in a raised position and movable downwardly to engage the back of an animal, means for re leasably holding the upper clamping ele-' ment in a depressed position, means for moving the clamping board toward the stationary wall for clamping engagement with the side of an animal and holding the board in a clamping position, and movable closures for the ends of said housing.

2. The structure of claim 1 having the means for moving the clamping board toward a clamping position consisting of retatably mounted rocker shafts, arms extending from said rocker shafts and engaging said clamping board, one of the rocker shafts being provided with a turning element, and means for transmitting rotary movement from one shaft to the other.

3. The structure of claim 1 having the stationary wall and clamping boa-rd provided with openings, vertically disposed rods carried by said housing, cross rods connected with the upper clamping element and slidaby mounted upon the vertical rods, springs upon the vertical rods engaging the rods of the upper clamping element to yieldably hold the upper clamping element in a raised position, and securing rods for passing through the openings of the board and stationary wall above the upper clamping ele ment to hold the upper clamping element in a depressed position.

4:. The structure of claim 1 having the stationary wall and clamping board. provided with openings, and securing rods for passing through the openings of the board and stationary wall above the upper clamping element to hold the upper clamping element in a depressed position.

5. The structure of claim 1 having the stationary wall and clamping board provided with openings, and securing rods for passing through the openings of the board and stationary wall above the upper clamping element to hold the upper clamping element in a depressed position, fingers extending from said securing rods and keeper means carried by the stationary wall and engageable by the fingers when the rods are turned to hold the rods against moving out of a position above the upper clamping element.

6. The structure of claim 1 having the clamping hoard provided with hanger arms, and track means carried by and extending transversely ofthe end walls of the housing and engaged by the hanger arms to slidably and pivotally mount the clamping board.

7. An animal holding device comprising a. housing including a clamping element for engaging the back of an animal, vertically disposed rods cross rods connected with said clamping element and slid-ably mounted upon said vertically disposed rods, springs upon said vertically disposed rods and engaging the ends of said cross rods to yieldably hold said clamping element in a raised position, and means for holding said clamping element in a clamping position after being moved downwardly against the action of said springs.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM L. BARLOW. 

